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Didja accidentally blow through the whole, "We're using our real names" thing on registration? No problem, just send me (Mike) a Conversation message and I'll get you sorted, by which I mean hammered-into-obedient-line because I'm SO about having a lot of individuality-destroying, oppressive shit all over my forum.

In 2004, I did a score for a film called “Forbidden Warrior” with a 96-piece all-star orchestra, recorded at the legendary Todd-AO studio by Academy Award-winning engineer Shawn Murphy. Who among us could possibly complain? It was beautifully performed and recorded; it sounds like a Big Hollywood Movie. Well, in this class, we’re going to analyze the Main Title both compositionally, and especially orchestrationally because today I would do it very differently; much more effectively. We’ll talk about how and why, and reveal some of the key ingredients to the classic “Hollywood sound.” Included in the class is a copy of the original score for study. Don’t miss this one!

Will you be going in to more detail of the middle bit of the process? I.e. Going from piano sketch to midi mock up (which was absent from the putting it together masterclass)?

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The "Virtuosity" masterclass is a good guideline for that part of the process. The midi mock up is just the "approximation" of the orchestration on a computer, and I believe the orchestration was discussed in the "Putting it all together" class, but I might be wrong (it's been a while).

Also I think the "mocking up" part was discussed on the "Composing - When you don't feel like it" video quite in depth (on Youtube), so I would go see it there!

The "Virtuosity" masterclass is a good guideline for that part of the process. The midi mock up is just the "approximation" of the orchestration on a computer, and I believe the orchestration was discussed in the "Putting it all together" class, but I might be wrong (it's been a while).

Also I think the "mocking up" part was discussed on the "Composing - When you don't feel like it" video quite in depth (on Youtube), so I would go see it there!

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The orchestration was discussed, it just seemed to me to be quite a leap. Particularly for a beginner (like me) it was very difficult to make the connection between the "block chord piano sketch" composition and the full blown orchestral recording.

Don't get me wrong, it was a great masterclass. I just felt that the middle bit (piano sketch to orchestration) would have been the most valuable learning resource for someone like me.

Well there are two other orchestration classes which talk about that process.

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Yup, I've watched those too and they are great. I just felt that something like the race (or the new main theme masterclass) is great opportunity to demonstrate putting those principles into practice using a fully fleshed out composition.

Staff Member

If you've watched 3 orchestration Masterclasses and are still asking about this then what you're doing is listening and watching videos, but you're not doing anything. Take something in one of the videos - take a discussion on open voice chords for brass or strings, or one of the presets discussed at length - and try using them. Stop learning and start working. Post them for us here - that's the process. "Is this right? How about this?" That's what we're here for. Try, fail, let us correct you, and get better. What you're asking for has been done several times in several ways. Now it is your turn to try. Don't wait, and have no fear. Orchestrate for one section if you want - say, trombones. Don't even bother with writing if you don't want to, just orchestrate a I-IV-V progression 6 ways for 3 trombones. Just do it. Do it, post it.

If you've watched 3 orchestration Masterclasses and are still asking about this then what you're doing is listening and watching videos, but you're not doing anything. Take something in one of the videos - take a discussion on open voice chords for brass or strings, or one of the presets discussed at length - and try using them. Stop learning and start working. Post them for us here - that's the process. "Is this right? How about this?" That's what we're here for. Try, fail, let us correct you, and get better. What you're asking for has been done several times in several ways. Now it is your turn to try. Don't wait, and have no fear. Orchestrate for one section if you want - say, trombones. Don't even bother with writing if you don't want to, just orchestrate a I-IV-V progression 6 ways for 3 trombones. Just do it. Do it, post it.

Staff Member

Not at all, looks good, though for the class we'll just be doing the Main Title portion, as heard in the reprise. We actually recorded it separately and the connection to the Prologue in the film was an edit after the fact!

Figures...Trust me to get started on the wrong section. Well, the Main Title sounds easier and more straight-forward...and that's part of its charm - its easy to listen to and digest. So why would you want to change it? We'll have to wait an see. I'll see if I can get started transcribing it tonight.